Bug Note — A Podcast by NHMU

About the Podcast

Bug Note is a new podcast about the wiggly, wild, and weird world of bugs! In these bug-bite-sized episodes, host Daniel Potter asks entomology experts from the Natural History Museum of Utah (and other bug-loving guests) for the buzz on all things insects. Ask your burning bug questions below for a chance to have them answered on the show! 

Find new episodes here every Friday through Labor Day, 2026.

Want to learn even more about the world of bugs? Visit Bug World at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Open through September 7, 2026, Bug World is a larger-than-life exhibition that showcases the fantastical yet real-life abilities of bugs in an experience like no other. Bug World is made possible with generous support from our Presenting Sponsor, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, and has been developed by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa with Wētā Workshop Limited, the five-time Academy Award-winning special effects masters behind The Lord of the Rings and Avatar.

Bug Note is now available wherever you get your podcasts.

Bug Note Episodes

Bug Note can be found on YouTube, Spotify, and the NHMU blog. Direct links to each episode can be found below, and new episodes will be released weekly.

Episode 1: What Is a Bug? — In this week’s episode, host Daniel Potter chats with Christy Bills, NHMU’s Invertebrate Collections Manager, and Dr. Jason Cryan, NHMU’s Sarah B. George Executive Director and trained entomologist, to answer the complicated question, “What is a bug?” 

Episode 2: All You Bug Haters — In this episode, host Daniel Potter chats with Christy Bills, NHMU’s Invertebrate Collections Manager, about the bad reputation that many bugs unfairly endure. So, for all you bug haters out there, this episode is for you.

Episode 3: Let Me Count the Bugs — If you’ve ever wondered how many species of insects live on the planet, or what the bug-to-human ratio is, this episode of Bug Note is for you. In this segment, host Daniel Potter explores bugs by the numbers.

Episode 4: For the Kid Who Loves Bugs — This week’s episode of Bug Note is for the kids who love bugs. Host Daniel Potter asks our experts about how parents can support their child’s insect interests.

Episode 5: You Don't Mess With Success — Natural selection has led plants and animals to develop a vast array of unique adaptations, and bugs have had a lot of success. In this episode of Bug Note, host Daniel Potter takes an appreciative look at the evolutionary success of insects.

Episode 6: Extremophiles — Some bugs are in a league of their own, and extremophiles deserve the distinction. They live in places that are extra hot, extra cold, or in the case of those that live around the Great Salt Lake, extra salty.

Episode 7: Convergent Evolution — Why do many distantly related species share similar traits and body structures? It’s all thanks to something called convergent evolution. 

Meet the Hosts

Bug Note is hosted by Daniel Potter, a science writer who's also worked in the world of public radio for many years, and who loves fresh air and storytime. He's joined by Dr. Jason Cryan, NHMU’s Sarah B. George Executive Director and trained entomologist, and Christy Bills, NHMU's Invertebrate Collections Manager, as well as other bug-loving guests. Video production by Blank Space. The podcast is created in collaboration with the Natural History Museum of Utah, with the expertise and support of its scientific, philanthropic, marketing, and education teams. Special thanks to NHMU friend and insect enthusiast Ted Fridirici.

Ask Bug Note Your Questions

Be a part of this production and inspire future episodes. Ask us the invertebrate questions that have been bugging you and we'll provide the answers on Bug Note!